What Is Streptomycin Mechanism of Action Uses and Side Effects
Streptomycin is known to be an antibiotic that is used to treat bacterial infections such as tuberculosis, Mycobacterium avium complex, endocarditis, brucellosis, Burkholderia infection, plague, tularemia, and rat bite fever. Streptomycin is an antibiotic that is produced by the soil organism Streptomyces griseus. Selman Waksman, Albert Schatz, and Elizabeth Bugie, three American biochemists, discovered streptomycin in 1943. The drug works by interfering with a microorganism's ability to synthesise certain essential proteins.
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It was the first antimicrobial agent discovered after penicillin and the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis. Streptomycin was widely used because it was effective against a wide range of diseases; as a result, many initially sensitive microorganisms, including the bacterium that causes tuberculosis, developed resistance to the antibiotic. It is used in conjunction with penicillin to treat infections of heart valves (endocarditis), and it is used in conjunction with tetracyclines to treat plague, tularemia, and brucellosis.
Streptomycin Medicine Uses
This medication is used in conjunction with various other medications to treat active tuberculosis (that is also known as TB) infection, if you are unable to take other TB medications or if you have a type of TB that cannot be treated with other medications (drug-resistant TB). Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, which is a type of antibiotic. It kills the organisms that cause the infection. Along with other medications, this streptomycin drug may be used to treat other serious infections (e.g., Mycobacterium avium complex-MAC, tularemia, endocarditis, plague).
Streptomycin Tuberculosis
Streptomycin is also used for tuberculosis treatment when one or more of the preceding drugs is contraindicated due to toxicity or intolerance. As a result of rising rates of drug resistance and concurrent HIV infection, tuberculosis management has become more complicated.
Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic derived from Streptomyces griseus that is used to treat tuberculosis and other Gram-negative infections.
Medication for tuberculosis is typically taken for 9 months or longer. After taking streptomycin on a daily basis for 1 to 2 months, your doctor may advise you to take it less frequently (e.g., 2 to 3 times a week).
Penicillin and Streptomycin
Alexander Fleming discovered that mould from the genus Penicillium inhibited the growth of bacteria in 1928. This unknown antibacterial substance was dubbed penicillin by Fleming. Ten years later, a group of researchers at Oxford University began studying penicillin in laboratory mice. During World War II, penicillin was hailed as a miracle drug that saved countless lives.
Penicillin antibiotics are available as
tablets,
capsules,
powder for oral suspension, and
powder for injection.
Penicillin antibiotics prevent bacteria from multiplying by preventing the formation of the walls that surround them. The walls protect the bacteria from their surroundings and keep the contents of the bacterial cell together. Bacteria cannot survive in the absence of a cell wall. When bacteria are actively multiplying and forming cell walls, penicillin antibiotics are most effective.
Penicillin is a common antibiotic used to treat bacterial infections caused by staphylococci and streptococci. Penicillin is a member of the beta-lactam antibiotic family, which uses a similar mechanism of action to inhibit bacterial cell growth, eventually killing the bacteria.
Streptomycin Price
The average price for 1 Solution Reconstituted, 1gm is \[\$\]100.89. By using the WebMDRx coupon, you can purchase streptomycin sulphate for \[\$\]85.00, a 16 percent savings. Even if this medication is covered by Medicare or your insurance, we recommend that you shop around for the best price.
Streptomycin Side-Effects
Nausea, vomiting, stomach upset, or loss of appetite are all possible side effects. The injection site may experience pain, irritation, or redness. Inform your doctor or pharmacist right away if any of these side effects persist or worsen.
Remember that your doctor prescribed this medication because he or she believes the benefit to you outweighs the risk of side effects. Many people who take this medication do not experience serious side effects.
Notify your doctor right away if you experience any serious side effects, such as muscle weakness, persistent diarrhoea even after discontinuing this medication, easy bleeding/bruising, rapid heartbeat, new signs of infection (e.g., high fever, persistent cough), signs of kidney problems (such as a change in urine volume), or unusual tiredness.
Long-term or repeated use of this medication may result in oral thrush or a new vaginal yeast infection. If you notice white patches in your mouth, a change in vaginal discharge, or any other new symptoms, consult your doctor.
Streptomycin Treatment
This medication is used in conjunction with various other medications to treat active tuberculosis (TB) infection if you are unable to take other TB medications or if you have a type of TB that cannot be treated with other medications (drug-resistant TB). Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, which is a type of antibiotic.
Spectinomycin Streptomycin
In some cases, spectinomycin can be used instead of streptomycin because it is more stable; however, when increased stability is not required, streptomycin should be used because it is much more cost-effective.
Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic. It kills bacteria by inhibiting the ability of 30S ribosomal subunits to produce proteins. Streptomycin was isolated from Streptomyces griseus by Albert Schatz in 1943. Streptomycin is on the WHO's List of Essential Medicines.
Hormone Streptomycin
Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic, which is a type of antibiotic. It kills the organisms that cause the infection.
Along with other medications, this drug may be used to treat other serious infections (e.g., Mycobacterium avium complex -MAC, tularemia, endocarditis, plague).
FAQs on Streptomycin and Its Role as an Aminoglycoside Antibiotic
1. What is streptomycin?
Streptomycin is an aminoglycoside antibiotic used to treat serious bacterial infections, especially tuberculosis. It is produced by the soil bacterium Streptomyces griseus and was one of the first antibiotics effective against Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Streptomycin works mainly against aerobic Gram-negative bacteria and certain Gram-positive bacteria by inhibiting protein synthesis.
2. How does streptomycin work?
Streptomycin works by binding to the 30S subunit of bacterial ribosomes and blocking protein synthesis. Its mechanism includes:
- Binding irreversibly to the 30S ribosomal subunit
- Causing misreading of mRNA
- Producing faulty or nonfunctional proteins
- Leading to bacterial cell death (bactericidal effect)
Because it targets bacterial ribosomes, it does not affect human cytoplasmic ribosomes in the same way.
3. What type of antibiotic is streptomycin?
Streptomycin is a bactericidal aminoglycoside antibiotic that inhibits bacterial protein synthesis. Aminoglycosides are characterized by:
- An amino sugar structure
- Activity mainly against aerobic Gram-negative bacteria
- Action on the 30S ribosomal subunit
It is commonly classified under aminoglycosides along with gentamicin and neomycin.
4. What is streptomycin used for?
Streptomycin is mainly used to treat tuberculosis and certain severe bacterial infections. Its clinical uses include:
- Treatment of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (in combination therapy)
- Plague caused by Yersinia pestis
- Tularemia caused by Francisella tularensis
- Brucellosis (with other antibiotics)
It is usually given by intramuscular injection because it is poorly absorbed orally.
5. Who discovered streptomycin?
Streptomycin was discovered in 1943 by Selman Waksman and his colleagues. It was isolated from the soil bacterium Streptomyces griseus and became the first effective antibiotic against tuberculosis. Waksman later received the Nobel Prize for his work on antibiotic discovery.
6. Why is streptomycin important in biology and medicine?
Streptomycin is important because it was the first antibiotic effective against tuberculosis and helped establish the field of antibiotic research. Its significance includes:
- Reducing mortality from tuberculosis
- Demonstrating the medical value of soil microorganisms
- Advancing understanding of bacterial ribosomes and protein synthesis
It marked a major milestone in antimicrobial therapy and microbiology.
7. What are the side effects of streptomycin?
The major side effects of streptomycin are ototoxicity and nephrotoxicity. Common adverse effects include:
- Damage to the inner ear causing hearing loss or balance problems
- Kidney toxicity affecting renal function
- Allergic reactions (rare)
Because of these risks, its use is carefully monitored, especially during long-term therapy.
8. How do bacteria become resistant to streptomycin?
Bacteria become resistant to streptomycin mainly through mutations in the ribosomal proteins or rRNA of the 30S subunit. Resistance mechanisms include:
- Mutation in genes encoding ribosomal protein S12
- Modification of the 16S rRNA target site
- Production of enzymes that inactivate the drug
These changes prevent streptomycin from binding effectively to the ribosome.
9. Is streptomycin bactericidal or bacteriostatic?
Streptomycin is a bactericidal antibiotic because it kills bacteria rather than just inhibiting their growth. It causes irreversible damage to bacterial protein synthesis, leading to defective proteins and cell death. This distinguishes it from bacteriostatic drugs, which only stop bacterial multiplication.
10. What is the difference between streptomycin and penicillin?
The main difference between streptomycin and penicillin is their mechanism of action and target site in bacteria. Key differences include:
- Streptomycin: An aminoglycoside that inhibits protein synthesis by binding to the 30S ribosomal subunit
- Penicillin: A beta-lactam antibiotic that inhibits cell wall synthesis by blocking peptidoglycan formation
- Streptomycin is especially useful for tuberculosis, while penicillin is commonly used for many Gram-positive infections
Thus, they act on different bacterial structures—ribosomes versus the cell wall.
